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Sold Out / OOP
This special limited edition spot gloss slipcover (designed by Chris Barnes) is limited to 2,000 units and is only available on our website and at select indie retailers. Absolutely no major retailers will be stocking them.
Founded in 2002 as one of the first-ever subscription film services with its DVD-of-the-Month Film Club, FilmMovement is now a North American distributor of award-winning independent and foreign films based in New York City. In 2015, FilmMovement launched the reissue label FilmMovement Classics featuring new restorations released theatrically as well as on home video, with an emphasis on films by auteur directors such as Eric Rohmer, Peter Greenaway and Takeshi Kitano.
Legendary genre auteur Hideo Gosha’s gleefully anarchic, spaghetti western-informed samurai adventures are finally available to North American audiences in one complete set.
SAMURAI WOLF: Isao Natsuyagi stars as Kiba, a charismatic ronin who wanders into a small town and ends up ensnared in a local conflict that's more than meets the eye. After dispatching a pair of highway criminals seen robbing a courier wagon, Kiba agrees to assist a beautiful blind woman who runs the local shipping company. Double- and triple-crosses ensue, illustrated with savage but economical violence courtesy of famed director Hideo Gosha's (THREE OUTLAW SAMURAI, VIOLENT STREETS) striking black and white filmmaking. The result is a lean and mean triumph of samurai cinema, cementing Gosha's status as a master of the genre.
SAMURAI WOLF 2: HELL CUT: Charismatic ronin Kiba (Isao Natsuyagi) returns, once again entangled in a complex web of intrigue, involving a crooked goldmine owner, a cynical swordsman, and an arrogant dojo master. Master filmmaker Hideo Gosha brings his trademark tight pacing and stylish action to this brisk morality play, inevitably punctuated by the explosions of violent swordplay beloved by fans of the genre.
Outlaw Director: Hideo Gosha featurette with Tomoe Gosha
Audio commentary by Chris Poggiali, co-author of These Fists Break Bricks
20-page booklet with a new essay by Robin Gatto, author of Hideo Gosha, cinéaste sans maître
English subtitles
Overall rating: 4.804348 / 5 from 138 reviews.
AI Generated Review Summary
This limited edition Samurai Wolf 1 & 2 Blu-ray set, featuring stunning cinematography, captivating acting, and excellent transfer quality, is a must-have for fans of classic Japanese action films. The fantastic packaging and beautiful artwork add to the overall appeal, making it a valuable addition to any film collection.
"Great transfers, great cover and artwork, and great movies overall." — Sevren C.
"Two fantastic films directed by Hideo Gosha with great acting, cinematography, framing, and swordplay." — Matthew L.
"Great cinematography, lighting, characterization, and healthy amount of bloodshed." — Robert I.
Reviews
Gosha's Masterpiece
"Samurai Wolf and Samurai Wolf II are lean, stylish chanbara films directed by Hideo Gosha, showcasing a grittier and more kinetic approach to the samurai genre. Both films follow a wandering ronin, played with cool intensity by Isao Natsuyagi, as he drifts into conflicts shaped by greed, corruption, and shifting loyalties. Compared to more traditional period dramas, these films emphasize speed, tension, and moral ambiguity, with sharp editing and dynamic action sequences that give them a modern edge even decades later. The Blu-ray release from Film Movement Classics brings these two films together in a strong presentation that highlights their visual style and craftsmanship. The transfers allow the stark cinematography and carefully staged sword fights to stand out, while the overall release feels curated with care for fans of Japanese cinema. By pairing both entries, the edition offers a satisfying look at Gosha’s early work and the character of the lone swordsman, making it an essential set for collectors interested in a more hard-edged take on the samurai film."
— Jaume M. (5/5)
Samurais Rule
"If you're a fan of the Lone Wolf and Cub films, do not sleep on these! Highly recommended"
— Jerry L. (5/5)
Snyder take notes, this is how you do slo mo
"Actor playing The Wolf makes this all that it can be and then some. Yes, the lil monkey bodyguard staying on his opponents shoulder for that whole intro skirmish was wildly to die for but that Lil former is a sworn enemy no matter how adorable. Loved that night battle around the fire set to the plucking sweet sounds from a koto? Kiba the Furious Wolf fights so honorably even one armed cuz opponent was already injured. Throat slashes in both have a still intensity i haven't seen before. Good stuff! In Hell Cut I loved the prisoner basket transport caravan itself and the camera shots from 1st person or seeing fights around through basket holes was marvelously filmed. Magobei is a wonderful kind of anti hero towards the Wolf but he fails to truly learn the Wlf ways and has to be cut down rightfully so. Cut with your face is an interesting filming technique explained by Hideo Gosha in the extras. Also the making of duralumin into weapons for weightless swordplay seem real is also an interesting highlight in the discussion but i really enjoyed monke talk lol."
— Derek T. (5/5)
A fun discovery . . .
"The one-two combo of Samurai Wolf and Samurai Wolf 2 is the kind of discovery into Japanese cinema that is becoming a regularity (in the best way possible) with VS and the OCN Partner labels. These two black-and-white lo-fi samurai films are the kind of enthusiastically made genre entries that quickly become favorites. The 2K restorations are great, as are the commentary track and the visual essay on the director. One can only hope that Fillm Movement and the partner labels continue to bring older films to the collection as they're producing wonderful editions with great extra features"
— Kevin L. (5/5)
Samurai Wolf
"Really entertaining pair of samurai films. Both are under 80 minutes and move quickly. Lean and mean with lots of great action."
— Jon B. (5/5)
Two very cool underrated samurai
"Two very cool underrated samurai flicks. Very stylish and almost spahhhetti western feel to them. Extras aren’t are a lot, but again, getting two films for the price of one more than makes up for it. You also do get a slipcover with gorgeous artwork!"
— Kyle C. (4/5)
Wonderful Samurai ‘Westerns’
"Samurai Wolf is a samurai western, pure and simple. Darker and more violent than I would have expected, and we are cheering for a true anti-hero in Kiba. 2 is more of the same, and I’m many respects, better. Definitely pick up if you’re a fan of Samurai films and westerns"
— Aaron P. (4/5)
totally new!
"Wow these were totally new to me. Had never heard of them. From the director of three outlaw samurai. Very cool and unexpected. Please do more westerns and japanese samurai movies, VS."
— Ian C. (5/5)
Samurai classics
"Samurai Wolf is a lean, stylish chambara film that distills Hideo Gosha’s strengths into a brisk, energetic package. Starring Isao Natsuyagi as the wandering swordsman Kiba, the film blends classic ronin tropes with Gosha’s flair for sharp editing, bold compositions, and morally tangled storytelling. Despite its short runtime, it delivers striking action, a noir‑tinged atmosphere, and a protagonist whose rough‑edged charm anchors the chaos. It’s a scrappy, fast‑moving gem of 1960s Japanese cinema. The sequel expands the world while keeping the same gritty, kinetic spirit. Samurai Wolf 2 is darker and more cynical, pushing Kiba into a web of betrayal and shifting loyalties. Gosha’s direction is even more confident here—fight scenes are tighter, the visual style more expressive, and the tone more fatalistic. While it retains the pulpy energy of the first film, it also deepens the character’s journey, giving the duology a surprisingly resonant emotional arc."
— Tarek E. (3/5)
1&2 weren’t enough
"You can never go wrong with the looks and artwork behind the magic of Samurai films. This particular edition was one I’ve been eyeing for a while. Finally had the guts to purchase it. No regrets. It’s no Kurosawa, but it’s definitely amazing."
— John R. (5/5)
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